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GeneralRe: How old can a bit on magnetic tape get Pin
CDP180220-Jan-17 12:34
CDP180220-Jan-17 12:34 
JokeRe: How old can a bit on magnetic tape get Pin
DaveAuld20-Jan-17 18:20
professionalDaveAuld20-Jan-17 18:20 
GeneralRe: How old can a bit on magnetic tape get Pin
CDP180220-Jan-17 19:41
CDP180220-Jan-17 19:41 
GeneralRe: How old can a bit on magnetic tape get Pin
kmoorevs21-Jan-17 6:30
kmoorevs21-Jan-17 6:30 
GeneralRe: How old can a bit on magnetic tape get Pin
Marc Clifton21-Jan-17 3:29
mvaMarc Clifton21-Jan-17 3:29 
GeneralRe: How old can a bit on magnetic tape get Pin
CDP180223-Jan-17 3:55
CDP180223-Jan-17 3:55 
GeneralRe: How old can a bit on magnetic tape get Pin
theoldfool21-Jan-17 4:43
professionaltheoldfool21-Jan-17 4:43 
GeneralRe: How old can a bit on magnetic tape get Pin
jamesperrett22-Jan-17 22:58
professionaljamesperrett22-Jan-17 22:58 
I don't have much experience of data tapes but I have worked extensively with old audio tapes. There are two main problems with old tapes, binder breakdown (sticky shed) and loss of lubrication. Binder breakdown can usually be temporarilly reversed by gently heating the tape to about 50 degrees C for a few hours. Loss of lubrication is rarer but tapes can usually be played on machines that have no stationary guides. It has to be said that these problems usually only affect certain brands - Ampex/Quantegy being the most famous for sticky shed.

Tapes with a high bit density may suffer from problems with self erasure but this is something that happens in the first few months after recording. If a tape has been previously readable then it is unlikely to suffer.

Other issues could be fragile splices which will have to be remade but, apart from the leader tape, splices shouldn't be an issue with data tapes. Acetate based tapes are also far more fragile than more modern Mylar tapes but I'm not sure whether any data tapes were actually made with acetate bases.
GeneralRe: How old can a bit on magnetic tape get Pin
Kirk 1038982123-Jan-17 3:44
Kirk 1038982123-Jan-17 3:44 
GeneralRe: How old can a bit on magnetic tape get Pin
CDP180223-Jan-17 3:52
CDP180223-Jan-17 3:52 
GeneralTech question - Google youtube API - Quota - How is it count? Pin
Mike (Prof. Chuck)20-Jan-17 7:27
professionalMike (Prof. Chuck)20-Jan-17 7:27 
GeneralRe: Tech question - Google youtube API - Quota - How is it count? Pin
Dave Kreskowiak20-Jan-17 7:39
mveDave Kreskowiak20-Jan-17 7:39 
GeneralRe: Tech question - Google youtube API - Quota - How is it count? Pin
Mike (Prof. Chuck)20-Jan-17 7:43
professionalMike (Prof. Chuck)20-Jan-17 7:43 
GeneralRe: Tech question - Google youtube API - Quota - How is it count? Pin
Dave Kreskowiak20-Jan-17 7:46
mveDave Kreskowiak20-Jan-17 7:46 
GeneralRe: Tech question - Google youtube API - Quota - How is it count? Pin
Mike (Prof. Chuck)20-Jan-17 8:06
professionalMike (Prof. Chuck)20-Jan-17 8:06 
GeneralRe: Tech question - Google youtube API - Quota - How is it count? Pin
Dave Kreskowiak20-Jan-17 8:15
mveDave Kreskowiak20-Jan-17 8:15 
GeneralRe: Tech question - Google youtube API - Quota - How is it count? Pin
Mike (Prof. Chuck)20-Jan-17 8:21
professionalMike (Prof. Chuck)20-Jan-17 8:21 
GeneralRe: Tech question - Google youtube API - Quota - How is it count? Pin
Dave Kreskowiak20-Jan-17 8:26
mveDave Kreskowiak20-Jan-17 8:26 
GeneralRe: Tech question - Google youtube API - Quota - How is it count? Pin
Mike (Prof. Chuck)20-Jan-17 8:30
professionalMike (Prof. Chuck)20-Jan-17 8:30 
JokeMJOTD PinPopular
Mike Hankey20-Jan-17 7:25
mveMike Hankey20-Jan-17 7:25 
JokeRe: MJOTD Pin
Rajesh R Subramanian20-Jan-17 17:53
professionalRajesh R Subramanian20-Jan-17 17:53 
GeneralI Detect A Disturbance in the Force Pin
W Balboos, GHB20-Jan-17 6:45
W Balboos, GHB20-Jan-17 6:45 
GeneralRe: I Detect A Disturbance in the Force PinPopular
MarkTJohnson20-Jan-17 6:50
professionalMarkTJohnson20-Jan-17 6:50 
GeneralI Detect an impact in the force Pin
lopatir20-Jan-17 6:52
lopatir20-Jan-17 6:52 
GeneralRe: I Detect an impact in the force Pin
Nighthowler20-Jan-17 14:30
Nighthowler20-Jan-17 14:30 

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